The Great American Backyard Campout is part of National Wildlife Federation¹s efforts to help inspire Americans to protect wildlife, including a 3-year campaign to get 10 million kids to spend regular outdoor time in nature. This annual nationwide event is designed to promote the benefits of camping as a way to connect people with nature and to get kids outdoors. Since 2005, thousands of people from across the nation have come together the fourth Saturday of June to participate in the Great American Backyard Campout in support of Great Outdoors Month.In 2009, LSNC partnered with NWF¹s Great Lakes office to host an event designed for first-time campers that offers the opportunity to camp at our center and take part in a variety of fun nature-based activities. From that beginning grew an annual event that we look forward to every year. For more information, please visit www.backyardcampout.org.

This year LSNC is proud to say that NWF¹s Wildlife Nation has chosen us to be a seed team on their new social networking site, www.wildlifenation.org. Wildlife Nation empowers and supports adults in getting kids outdoors in nature and building in them an appreciation for wildlife and the Great American Backyard Campout is a great platform for getting started.

We are thrilled to announce the plan for this year¹s event.
Beginning at 4:00 p.m. on June 28, campers are welcomed to the LSNC site to set up their tents before attending a hot dog barbeque dinner. After dinner, festivities will continue with a flight program with LSNC¹s resident Red-tailed Hawk, Turkey Vulture, and Bald Eagle. We are excited that Ann Arbor’s Moosejaw Mountaineering will be presenting a basic overview of the different techniques that can be utilized while cooking in the great outdoors, including open flames, two burner stoves, and backpacking stoves. Other activities will include s’mores by the campfire, staff-led night hikes, and an astronomy program with UM Student Astronomy Society.

After a good night¹s rest, campers can welcome the day with an energizing hike and breakfast before the event draws to a close at10:00 a.m. on June 29. All campers must provide their own camping gear. Participants may wish to rent camping items at UM¹s Outdoor Adventures, located at Elbel Field, 336 Hill Street, in Ann Arbor.Find out more about Outdoor Adventures, including hours and rates, here: http://recsports.umich.edu/article/rental-center.

Please join us for the Great American Backyard Campout, a special opportunity to connect your family with nature, on-site at LSNC,1831 Traver Rd, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105, from Saturday, June 28 at 4:00 p.m. to Sunday June 29 at 10:00 a.m. Registration is just $50 per campsite, including all activities, dinner, and breakfast!Campsites are limited to one family, ideally six people or fewer, and must include one adult.